Walsh County Daily News Obituaries - Walsh County Daily News

Frances C. Ensminger

3/15/2023

Frances C. Ensminger, age 89 of Grafton, ND passed away Wednesday, March 15, 2023 at Lutheran Sunset Home of Grafton.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, March 24, 2023 at 10:30 A.M. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Grafton. Visitation will be on Thursday, March 23, 2023 from 5-7:00 p.m. at the Tollefson Funeral Home of Grafton, followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Friends may also call at the church on Friday one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the St. John’s Catholic Cemetery of Grafton, in the spring.

Dennis W. Maxwell

3/15/2023

Dennis Wayne Maxwell was born on May 15, 1940, in Concrete, ND, oldest of two sons born to James and Phyllis (Stevenson) Maxwell.  Brother Jack was born five years later and was his best friend for over 60 years, along with many cousins he loved dearly. At age 14 his parents sent him to Cavalier, where he rented a room from a local widow and attended high school. He swept floors at a local pool hall and set pins in the bowling alley to earn money.
     While working in Cavalier, he met his one and only true love, Alfrieda Stegman, “the blonde” waitress in the adjoining cafe where he would wash dishes to get a free meal.  The story Frieda tells is that he swooned her by saying, “Bring me a Bubble Up and I will love you forever.” She did, and the two married on June 24, 1960, in Neche, ND. Together they had three children, Brenda, Robert, and Angela.
    He worked for a local hardware store for five years, owned a grocery store for five years, and drove tanker semi-trucks hauling fuel for 33 years.  He had a license to drive anything and could!  He was very proud when his son followed suit and enjoyed the miles they drove (and talked) together, before retiring in November 2002.
     Dennis was a skilled woodworker and carpenter. In addition to home renovations, he made birdhouse replications (to scale) of homes and churches, and at last count, over 100 wooden rocking horses that he gladly gave away to children of friends, family, neighbors, or anyone who would ask.
     Dennis loved his community, those who served his country, a good Western cowboy show, cars, his family, and his Lord Jesus Christ.  He passed away on March 16, 2023, in Cavalier.  It is no coincidence that he died on 3:16 and would want you all to open your bibles and read John 3:16 today.
     He is survived by his wife Frieda, children Brenda (Terry) Ault, Bob (Nancy) Maxwell, and Angie (Brad) Nordstrom. Grandchildren Derek (Wendy) Ault, Brandon (Kelli) Ault, Gavin (Megan) Ault, Andrew Maxwell, Sarah (Brian) Fish, Brandi Veer (Andrew Anderson), Jennifer Maxwell (Chance Hartz), Abigail Nordstrom, Levi Nordstrom, and great-grandchildren who were the apple of his eye: Derek, Avery, Reace, Maggie, Peyton, Leah, Remi, Owen, Sawyer, Jeffrey, Emery and Izabella. Preceding him in death are his parents, father- and mother-in-law, his brother, five brothers-in-law, and many more extended family that he held dear.
     Funeral service will be held on Monday, March 20, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 19th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 pm. with a 6:00 p.m. prayer service at the Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier, ND.

Melynie F. Wolfgram

3/14/2023

Melynie F. Wolfgram, 58, Grand Forks, ND formerly of Cavalier, ND passed away Tuesday, March 14, 2023 near St. Thomas, ND. Funeral service will be held Monday, March 20, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier ND with visitation starting at noon.
     Melynie F. Elke was born November 17, 1964, at Cavalier, ND to Frederick and Marlys (Ganssle) Elke. She grew up and attended school in Cavalier. Melynie then attended Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, ND, and later worked at the Development Center in Grafton, ND.
     She enjoyed spending time with her dog Marly. Melynie was a people person, enjoyed teasing in a caring way, and helping and caring for others.
      Survivors include her parents, Marlys and Marvin Stark, Cavalier, ND, son, Tim Wolfgram, West Fargo, ND, grandchildren: Oakley, Finley, and Easton Wolfgram, brother, Curtis Elke, Boise, ID, nephew, Josh (Brittni) Elke and their children, Laney and Hudson, niece, Carlee (Nick) Elliott and their son Elijah.
     Preceding her in death was her father, Fred Elke.

Cleophas W Novak

3/14/2023

Cleophas W. “Cleo” Novak, age 87 of Pisek, ND passed away on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 at the Lutheran Sunset Home of Grafton.
Cleo was born September 25, 1935 in the family farmhouse near Pisek, ND, the son of the late John and Mary (Jelinek) Novak. He farmed and attended school near Pisek, graduation from Pisek High School in 1953. Following his education he continued farming with his dad. He was united in marriage to Doris Vasichek on September 29, 1959 at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Lomice. The couple moved to the Novak family farm where they farmed and raised livestock until retiring in 1998. They continued to make their home on the farm until moving into the Lutheran Sunset Home in July of 2019.
He was a member of the St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church of Pisek and the Catholic Workman where he served as financial secretary for 20 years. He also served as supervisor of the Rushford Township Board for several years.
Cleo is survived by his wife Doris, Grafton, ND, children: Monty (Kari) Novak, Park River, ND, Tami (Dean) Mecham, Grafton, ND, Dann Novak, Elk River, MN, Doug (Tina) Novak, Blunt, SD, and Dave (Lori) Novak, Oakes, ND; 9 grandchildren; several great grandchildren; brother John (Ann) Novak, Bismarck, ND; several nieces and nephews; and his lifelong friend Dennis Lovcik, Pisek, ND. He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son; brothers: Mark, Bruno, Daniel and sister Mary Rita Swartz.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, March 20, 2023 at 10:00 AM at the St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church of Pisek. Visitation will be Sunday from 3-5 PM with a prayer service at 5:00 PM at the church. Friends may also call at the church for one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the St. John Nepomucene Catholic Church or Cemetery of Pisek or the Pisek Fire Department. Interment will be at the St. John Nepomucene Catholic Cemetery of Pisek in the spring.

Betty Hanson

3/10/2023

Betty A. Hanson, 87, of Cavalier, ND, passed away Friday, March 10, 2023, after a long battle with lung cancer.
Betty was the 6th of 11 children born to Matt and Clothhilde “Mae” Werven. During her very full life of raising 6 children and having many different jobs, she was finally able to slow down enough to do things she enjoyed, her crafts. She did wood carvings, painted, made outhouses and birdhouses, and made many, many potholders. If she knew you and you had a birthday coming up, you were sure to get a set. She had a very giving heart and was loved by all who knew her.
Betty is survived by: Steven (Judy) Thordarson, Casselton, ND, Cindi (Mitchell) Croaker, Kindred, ND, Sandra (Larry) Latozke, Cavalier, ND, Gary (Janell) Thordarson, Crookston, MN, Randy (Leslie) Thordarson, Grand Forks, ND, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and her remaining brothers and sisters.
Preceding her in death are her son, Owen “Chuck” Thordarson, and her brothers and sisters.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at the Askew Funeral Home in Cavalier. Visitation will be held for one hour before the time of the service.

Evelyn Dietrich

3/7/2023

Evelyn Dietrich, 98, of Crystal, ND, passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2023, at Wedgewood Manor in Cavalier. Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
     Evelyn Ruth Johnson was born October 1, 1924, to Lewelyn and Myrna (Whitney) Johnson. On January 24, 1944, Evelyn married Clifford Onstad. Together they had three children: Linda, Judy, and Jerry.
     Evelyn loved to cook and bake. She enjoyed entertaining friends and relatives. She especially liked seeing her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. Ev also enjoyed gardening, crochet, and embroidery.
     In 1961 and 1962, Ev decided to go to beauty school in Fargo. She lived with her niece, Marlene (Greenwood) Bakken, Marlene’s husband Randy and their two sons Scott and Todd. After Ev graduated , she worked in Cavalier until she received her license. Cliff and Ev had a beauty shop built onto their home.
     Ev married Louis Dietrich in 1975. They had a building brought in to set on Louis’s property. She worked in that beauty shop until she was 92. She went to live with her daughter, Linda on November 1, 2018 and on January 27, 2023, went to live at Wedgewood Manor.
     Evelyn is survived by her daughters: Linda Ranisate, Crystal, ND, Judy (Fred) Hofmann, Silverton, Idaho, and stepson, Gary (Peggy) Dietrich, grandchildren: Rick (Allison) Ranisate, Chris (Jane) Ranisate, Shelly (Monday) Osagie, Jon (Brenda) Haug, JoAnn (Harice) Nailon, Judell (Joe) Marroquin, Penny Dietrich, eight great grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren.
      Preceding her in death were her parents, siblings: Vivian (Paul) Thomas, Luella (Peck) Peckanpaugh, Louis (Ragna) Johnson, husband, Cliff Onstad, son, Jerry Onstad, son-in-law, James Ranisate, husband, Louis Dietrich, step children: Dennis, Carol, James, and Tracy.

Irene N. Schanilec

3/4/2023

Irene Natalie Schanilec, 91, of Forest River, ND, died peacefully on March 4, 2023, at Lutheran Sunset Home, Grafton, ND, where she had been living since September 1, 2017.
Irene was born on July 27, 1931, in Grafton, ND, to Joseph and Dominica (Minnie Gornowicz) Kiedrowski, who owned the Kiedrowski Store in Warsaw. She was the fourth child of ten children. Irene attended grade school at the Warsaw Convent and graduated from Minto High School. She worked as a nurse’s aide at St. Michael’s in Grand Forks until she married the love of her life, Eugene Schanilec, on February 25, 1952, at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Warsaw. Irene and Gene lived on the Schanilec farm near Forest River, ND, where they farmed and raised six children.
Irene’s Catholic faith played a major part in Irene’s life. She had a strong devotion to Our Blessed Mother and to the Divine Mercy. She was a member of St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Veseleyville where she cherished her work as a sacristan. She was a member of the Altar Society and church choir. Irene was also a member of the Order of Franciscans of Mary Immaculate. She was active in Homemakers and 4-H.
Irene was passionate about music, theatre, and the arts. She loved attending sports. Mom had a gift for hospitality. Everyone loved her cooking and baking especially her wonderful soups, banana smoothies, and caramel rolls. Mom could whip up a delicious homemade meal spur of the moment when company stopped by. She enjoyed gardening and sharing with others her beautiful flowers and fresh produce and canned vegetables. Mom thrived on adventure and traveled the world with her husband and family. She loved dancing, playing cards and could make any event fun! People loved being around this vivacious lady and often sought her advice and wisdom. Mom especially enjoyed being around her family and adored her 24 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild (every time we count we come up with a different number).
Irene is survived by her children: Rod (Joan) Schanilec, Minto, ND; Merita (Ed) Steinbrueck, Eden Prairie, MN; Colleen (Paul) Samson, Park River, ND; Brad (Nadine) Schanilec, Forest River, ND; Janelle Schanilec, Fargo, ND; Brian (Kelly) Schanilec, Forest River, ND; sisters: Evelyn (Ernest) Lizakowski, Grand Forks, ND; Yvonne Steen, Big Lake, MN; Janet (Jack) Loeblein, River Falls, WI; Janice (Thomas) Sanders, Lonsdale, MN; sisters-in-law: Ione Kiedrowski, Lake Ridge, VA; Doris Kiedrowski, Long Beach, CA; brothers-in-law: Ernest Schanilec, Donna, TX; Vernon (Faye) Schanilec, Washougal, WA; sister-in-law: Connie (Jack) McDonald, Bismarck, ND; 24 grandchildren, 66 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Eugene; sisters: Leonarda Riske, Lucille Votava; brothers: Julian, Dennis and Adrian Kiedrowski; brothers-in-law: Steve Riske, Ewald Votava, and Dick Steen; sisters-in-law: Genevieve Barta, Joyce Schanilec, Bernice Schanilec; brothers-in-law: Leonard Barta and Herman (Sonny) Schanilec.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 10:30 A.M. at the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church of Warsaw. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00-8:00 P.M. with a prayer service at 8:00 P.M. at the St. Stanislaus Catholic Church of Warsaw. Friends may also call at the church on Saturday for one hour prior to the service. All night Eucharistic Adoration will be held following the prayer service at the church in Warsaw. Interment will be at the St. Luke’s Catholic Cemetery, Veseleyville, North Dakota, in the spring. Suggested memorials can be given to the Warsaw Church Foundation, the Pregnancy Help Center, St. Gianna and Pietro Molla Maternity Home or the Lutheran Sunset Home.

Faye E Quam

3/4/2023

Faye Eldonna (Martineau) Quam passed away March 4, 2023 at Valley Eldercare in Grand Forks, ND.
     Faye was born April 13, 1933 in Pembina, ND and was one of 13 children
born to Margaret (Wills) and Lorenzo Martineau. She attended school in Pembina and on May 1, 1954, married Clinton Duane Quam.
     She led a very interesting and challenging life as a military wife, living in many states and Germany, living in 65 different homes before she moved into a nursing home.
    After Duane's retirement from the service, the family moved to a farm by Cavalier, ND, then moved to Grand Forks, ND. They then owned a grocery store, Duane's Food Center in Park River , ND and eventually settled in Grand Forks, ND.
     Faye was a bookkeeper and had many different jobs including working at Duane's Food Center, The Girl Scouts, Coke Company and Gregory Ford in Cavalier.
     In Faye's retirement years, she was a K-MART greeter , earning her the nickname "Mrs. K-Mart" from her siblings. Her hobbies included collecting dolls, sewing, and baking. Not only did she love to bake, and she had a notorious sweet tooth. Guests were always offered goodies at Faye's house; she would often say, "I have nothing baked today, as she placed five varieties of sweets before you.
     Faye was petite in stature but big in personality. Some of her grandchildren called her "Spicey" and Sassy." Her own father referred to her as small but "almighty."
     Surviving Faye are her four daughters: Deborah (David) McCurdy, Cavalier, ND, Sandy Clingenpeel, Grand Island, Nebraska, Sharlene (Kurt) Espelien, Grand Forks, ND, Phyllis (Perry) Flaten, Grand Forks, ND. Grandchildren: Sarah (Terry) Hinnenkamp, Langdon, ND, John (Krystal) McCurdy, Ashton, Idaho, Kent (Trisha) McCurdy, Cavalier, ND. Adam Clingenpeel, Anya Clingenpeel, Alaina (Gus) Hamilton, Parker Clingenpeel, all of Grand Island, Nebraska, Eric (Stephanie) Espelien, Tyler Espelien, Fargo, ND, Derek (Kristi) Flaten, St Paul, MN. Nichole (Skylar) Eartman, Grand Forks, ND. Great Grandchildren: Kadence, Gryffen, Gracelynn McCurdy, Elin, Callen Hinnenkamp, Isabella, Emmett Espelien, Hadley Hamilton, Penelope, Lyla, Margo Ertman, Sophie Flaten, along with many nieces and nephews.
     Faye is also survived by the following siblings, Francis Sather and Judy Hove, both of Grafton, ND, Joyce Wosick and Bill Martineau, both of Cavalier, ND Wanda DuRain, Bismarck ,ND, and Connie Bushaw, Grand Forks, ND.
     Preceding her in death were her husband, Duane Quam, parents, Margaret & Lorenzo Martineau, brothers: Richard, George, and Arthur “Pete” Martineau, sisters: Elmere Kramer, Doris Markel, Louise Keney, son-in-law, Jerry Clingenpeel, and grandson, Coty Espelien.
     Funeral service will be held Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at the Askew Funeral Home, Cavalier, ND. Visitation will be held at the funeral home for one hour before the time of services.